Tabasco or tabasco sauce is just a sauce made from tabasco peppers. Before the sauce is prepared, the tabasco peppers are fermented for up to three years until they can be prepared as sauces. It has other applications as well.
They get added into cocktails and in many gravies or stews to spice up the recipe.
Tabasco sauce is also sometimes flavored to our preference to enjoy it with delight. The original flavor of Tabasco sauce lasts for 5 years straight. Flavored Tabasco peppers with herbs would last for 2 years.
It also depends on whether you have opened the bottle or not. Opened Tabasco sauce remains in the pantry for 2 weeks.
Unopened Tabasco sauce would go on 2 years after the production date. Opened Tabasco sauce can be refrigerated for 5 years.
Tabasco sauce usually contains just 3 ingredients which give intensity to many recipes. The ingredients are Tabasco peppers, vinegar, and salt.
Vinegar and salt do not have a problem with a shelf life as they tend to last longer. Tabasco peppers usually last longer as well, but they have a definite timeline which just differs with how you store them.
There is also a problem with retaining the quality of the sauce. It can last longer, even for years, together, but we are unsure whether it would still taste the same.
It could have lost its potency by then, which would not serve the purpose. In this article, we will delve deeper into the factors such as how long tabasco lasts and how exactly you store them only to extend their shelf life.
Does Tabasco Go Bad?
As mentioned before, tabasco does go bad, but it will be long before that happens. Even if the tabasco has turned bad or passed the best-by date, it does not necessarily mean it is unsafe to eat. It would have lost its quality or flavor and taste over time.
As we already know, mashed peppers are just deposited in a large wooden barrel and poured in with vinegar for fermentation. This would avoid all kinds of bacterial attacks.
However, as time passes by, the tabasco pepper may lose its intensity and render itself tasteless.
Given its longer shelf life, knowing that you must give it a good storage condition is also important. Storing it right would extend its shelf life and probably retain its quality as well.
How Long Does Tabasco Last?
The shelf life of Tabasco sauce varies depending on factors such as whether it is opened or unopened and whether it is flavored or not.
As mentioned on multiple instances, there is a printed date on the package, usually the best-by date that is not an expiration date. Only the quality declines as time passes by and when it is past the best-by date.
So this does not hinder the consumption of Tabasco sauce by any means. You can still eat it if it is past the best-by date, but it may not taste exactly the same way you want it to.
Below is a clearly elaborated table to give you an indication of how long Tabasco will last.
| Sauce | Pantry | Refrigerator |
|---|---|---|
| Homemade Tabasco sauce | 1 week | 2 to 3 months |
| Unopened Tabasco sauce (original) | 5 to 10 years from the production date | – |
| Opened Tabasco sauce (original) | 1 to 2 weeks | 5 years |
| Unopened Tabasco flavored | 2 years from the production date | – |
| Opened Tabasco flavored | 1 week | 2 years |
The flavored Tabasco sauces have a shelf life depending on the flavors that it consists of. A simple sweet, and spicy flavor would last longer than any other herbal flavor.
How To Tell If Tabasco Sauce Has Gone Bad?
You can check the condition of the Tabasco sauce before you are ready to consume it. The best thing is to just look for all possible signs which indicate thoroughly that it has gone bad totally.
1. Dirty Bottle
The packaging or the bottle must be checked thoroughly for any moisture or air content that indicates no longer valid for usage.
2. Molds
If you notice any mold growth on the surface of the sauce or any discoloration which would indicate spoilage, then it is better to discard the sauce completely.
3. Smell
If there is an off smell or a repulsive odor, then it is a clear warning to discard the sauce immediately.
4. Taste
If everything else looks fine, but the taste is obnoxious, then there is no point in keeping the sauce for consumption.
Storage Conditions For Tabasco Sauce
If you want to preserve the Tabasco sauce’s flavor and quality, the instructions below will be of much help.
1. Keep It In A Cool And Dark Place
The pantry or kitchen cabinet must be dry and cool to store the Tabasco sauce. It must be stored far away from any heat sources or light exposure to maintain its quality and integrity. It should also be kept away from direct sunlight.
2. Seal It Tightly
The Tabasco bottle has to be sealed tightly after usage to avoid any attack of microbes or bacteria.
3. Refrigerate It
The Tabasco sauce has to be refrigerated if you intend to increase its shelf life. The constant cold temperature can actually prolong its shelf life.
4. Add Vinegar To Homemade Tabasco Sauce
You have to lower the Ph levels of the Tabasco sauce by all means. So adding vinegar to the sauce can be very helpful in retaining its quality.
Is It Safe To Consume Dark Tabasco Sauce?
Over time, the tabasco peppers or even sauce would become darker, but it is an innocuous issue. This is not very harmful; the sauce will still be safe for consumption.
The darkness in color is due to the oxidization process, which sets in the fermented peppers. This happens because of the heat in the temperature. So it is healthy to keep the sauce away from any heat resources as much as possible.
Can You Freeze Tabasco Sauce?
Freezing the Tabasco sauce is immaterial as you can refrigerate it and retain its shelf life. The quality, which might take a slight hit, would be of concern.
It does not matter whether you freeze it or refrigerate it. The longer you keep it, the chances are that the taste or quality is not up to the mark.
Can You Use Tabasco Sauce For 5 Years?
Yes, the Tabasco sauce can last as long as 5 years. The vinegar and capsaicin in the peppers would prolong the shelf life by as much as 5 years. However, a check on its condition deems necessary whenever you need to use it.
Conclusion
As mentioned before, your favorite Tabasco sauce invariably has a longer shelf life but cannot last indefinitely. It is safe to empty it before time lapses out so that you enjoy the sauce’s flavor to its fullest potential.
There is no point in consuming a compromised Tabasco sauce which may not have the exact intensity it is supposed to have.
This article will be a clear guideline to tell you how long you can keep it and how you store it so that the taste and quality are intact.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Does tabasco go bad?
As mentioned before, tabasco does go bad, but it will be long before that happens. Even if the tabasco has turned bad or passed the best-by date, it does not necessarily mean it is unsafe to eat. It would have lost its quality or flavor and taste over time.
How long does tabasco last?
Tabasco sauce is also sometimes flavored to our preference to enjoy it with delight. The original flavor of Tabasco sauce lasts for 5 years straight. Flavored Tabasco peppers with herbs would last for 2 years. It also depends on whether you have opened the bottle or not. Opened Tabasco sauce remains in the pantry for 2 weeks.
How to tell if tabasco has gone bad?
If you notice any mold growth on the surface of the sauce or any discoloration which would indicate spoilage, then it is better to discard the sauce completely. If there is an off smell or a repulsive odor, then it is a clear warning to discard the sauce immediately. This is an indication that tabasco has gone bad.
What is the apt storage condition for tabasco?
The pantry or kitchen cabinet must be dry and cool to store the Tabasco sauce. It must be stored far away from any heat sources or light exposure to maintain its quality and integrity. It should also be kept away from direct sunlight.
Is it safe to consume dark tabasco sauce?
Over time, the tabasco peppers or even sauce would become darker, but it is an innocuous issue. This is not very harmful; the sauce will still be safe for consumption.
